Make the most of the long weekend with Beijing's best day trips

Free yourself from Beijing city life with these nearby escapes

If you're chasing a bucolic retreat, a date with ancient history or just the thrill of the open road, then what better time to do it than this long weekend? We've handpicked (and tested) a selection of popular and alternative destinations, so strap on your walking boots and get day trippin'.

Mountains

Baihe Valley

Undisturbed peace in the Hebei countryside

Baihe Valley is a site beloved by Beijing's rock climbers, not just because of the spectacular views of Miyun Reservoir it offers. Because it's not officially a national park, there's no entrance cost, no touristy paraphernalia and mostly, no other people. It's just you and the great outdoors, baby, so be prepared for some serious ambling, wandering and frolicking in the crystal clear water. You can also pick mulberries and plums from the plentiful fruit trees in the area, and in certain spots you can see the Great Wall of China looming in the distance. 

Getting there Public transport doesn't really cut it out here, so we recommend a private car.

Travel time Three or four hours from central Beijing.

Miaofengshan

A spiritual focal point carved into the mountains

Mount Miaofeng (Miaofengshan, 妙峰山) is the end point of one of the Taoist pilgrimages from Beijing. At its highest peak it reaches 1,291m, which is pretty hard going if you’ve walked all the way from Beijing, but a bit more manageable if you’ve been driven from the end of Line 1.

Once you've been dropped off in Miaofengshan village (Miaofengshanzhen, 妙峰山镇), where you can find quaint houses and precisely one local restaurant serving up basic but hearty dishes, it’s time to ascend. The climb takes about an hour, depending on how often you stop to gawp at the mountainous views behind you. Don't worry about getting lost; there's only really one way to go, which is up towards the Miaofeng Temple looming above. 

After a pretty rugged traverse, a more touristy scene awaits you at the top. The ancient and more recent history of the temples are explained in English and Chinese on plenty of helpful signs. There's not a huge amount to do here, but there is a huge amount to see. Just by the entrance is a small patio set up with some tables and chairs – buy a cup of tea from the woman guarding the fort and soak up the jaw-dropping landscape, which makes you feel a lot further from Beijing than you actually are.

Getting there Line 1 to Pingguoyuan, then either catch the 8.30am 929 bus to Miaofengshan (once a day), or haggle with a local driver for a lift. The return bus is at 4pm.

Travel time One hour from Pingguoyuan by car (or two if you get the bus).

Cost 40RMB for Miaofengshan; around 300RMB for a round trip with private driver from Pingguoyuan (depending on your bartering skills). 4RMB for the bus.

Culture and history

Badachu Park

A peaceful temple site within the Beijing borders

Nestled in the Western Hills, the slopes of Badachu Park host an array of Buddhist temples, nunneries and shrines. Centred around the Temple of Divine Light and its 'Buddha Tooth' relic, the park offers a real sense of spirituality.

If you think the handful of monks at the Lama Temple make it a spiritual hub, think again. At Badachu, monks, nuns and Buddhists far outnumber tourists; the quiet shrines are active places of worship where locals come to pray for guidance, health and luck in the lottery. They may also come for the exhilarating toboggan slide (60RMB) from the top of the hill back down to the entrance of the park.

The final courtyard of the Temple of the Fragrant World is a shady haven thick with incense. Sit beneath the trees and have a refreshing slice of watermelon (which you can buy from a nearby vendor) before continuing your pilgrimage uphill.

Getting there Take the subway to Pingguoyuan station (Line 1); leave via the north exit and take bus 972 (first bus 6am; last bus 8pm) to the entrance of the park.

Travel time Two hours.

Scenic parks

Xishan Park

Avoid the tourist crowds at this lesser-known national park

Xishan is both the biggest national forest park in the city and the closest to town. Built over a sprawling mountainside vista, the park boasts kilometres of well-maintained trails. There's not much to do here beyond wandering through the woodland paths, but with fewer historical artefacts than its more famous neighbour, the Fragrant Hills, it also offers peaceful solitude – once you're up the mountain, you'll hardly see another soul. Walk all the way up to 'The Rock of Ghost Laugh', the highest point on the mountain, for one hell of a view.

Getting there Take the 360 bus from Beijing Zoo subway station (Line 4) to Nanhetan – the park is a five-minute walk away.

Travel time One hour.

Lakes and rivers

Shidu (十渡 )

A deranged yet exhilarating carnival of water sports

Shidu (十渡 ) is a small town etched around the tenth crossing of the Juma river where Beijing borders Hebei, deep in the western Fangshan district. Hemmed in by a spectacular mountain scape and within striking distance of the capital, it was only a matter of time before the carnies made their move on Shidu, repurposing a good section of the river into something of an extreme sports aqua-rave.

Shidu features bungee jumping (260RMB), zip lining, cable cars (150RMB) and much more, all backed by second-tier EDM cuts that ricochet from mountain to river, past the eardrum and deep into the central chemistry of the human body. It's nature feat. Avicii out here, and if you can submit to the crude carnival atmosphere of Shidu, you’re going to love it.

Activities on the river are too many to mention, but an hour on a six-person, gondoliered bamboo raft (120RMB per hour), complete with bench chairs, dining table and plastic-leaf awning is a good place to start. Dodgem boats (30RMB for ten minutes), speedboats (30RMB per person) and Houhai-style boats (from 50RMB per 30 minutes) are all also available. For the thrill seeker, the zip lining looks terrifying, the bungee jumping – corroborated by much screaming – more so.

The mountain section is more inspiring. Head towards the military museum (free and definitely worth it) and head left. After 100m you should have more Aviici, dodgem cars (30RMB) and signs for the Tall Mountain Glass Walkway (高山玻璃栈道). Entry to the park is 50RMB and includes a knee-buckling 200m stroll over glass on the side of the eponymous pinnacle. The view from the summit is alone worth the sweat and offers a 270-degree view. Hikers may then descend in the conventional manner, or, as is custom at elevated Chinese attractions, take the creative option (see Great Wall toboggan): a giant glass slide (20RMB).

Getting there Take the 917 bus from Tianqiao Bus Terminal. Important: there are two signs for the 917, and indeed two types of 917 bus. You want the bus stop west of the Beiwei Lu and Dongjing Lu intersection. Buses leave Shidu across the road from the dodgems hourly, the last bus leaving at 4:30pm.

Travel time Three hours.

Cost 21RMB each way.

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